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Description

This dish is a relatively versatile and easy to make stunner that will knock your flavor socks off. The creamy herbed rice creates a kind of French risotto vibe that melds perfectly with the flavorful and juicy chicken. It is at once comforting, interesting, and a nice change for those who usually don’t do French because of sauces that are too rich or recipes that are too involved. Fresh herbs make all the difference!

Ingredients

2 TablespoonsOlive Oil

6 wholeChicken Legs And Attached Thighs

1 pinchSalt

1 pinchPepper

1 teaspoonHerbes De Provence

1 wholeMedium Onion, Chopped

2 clovesGarlic, Minced

½ poundsCremini Mushrooms, Sliced

¼ cupsWhite Wine

1-¾ cupChicken Broth

1-½ teaspoonSalt

¼ cupsFat Free Half And Half Or Cream

4 TablespoonsSour Cream

1 cupUncooked White Rice

1 TablespoonFresh Basil, Snipped

2 teaspoonsFresh Sage, Snipped

2 teaspoonsFresh Rosemary, Snipped

2 teaspoonsFresh Thyme, Snipped

½ teaspoonsPaprika

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large sauté pan on medium high or high heat (hot enough to brown but not burn). While you wait, season the chicken pieces all over with salt and pepper and herbs de Provence seasoning.
2. Working in batches, brown the chicken pieces on both sides, about 1-2 minutes per batch. Add a little more olive oil if needed after every batch if needed. If the chicken is cooking correctly, this will not be necessary. Please note that the chicken does not have to be cooked through, only browned on both sides. Remove chicken pieces from the pan and set aside in a bowl with paper towels.
3. In the same sauté pan lower the heat to medium. Add the onions and cook until translucent, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic, cook 30 seconds more. Remove onions and garlic to a shallow (9 x 13 x 2) casserole dish.
4. Raise heat in the pan to medium high and add the sliced mushrooms. Dry sauté them with no additional butter or oil, allowing the mushrooms to brown lightly and release some of their moisture. Then add the mushrooms to the casserole dish.
5. Add the dry white wine to the pan and stir to deglaze the pan, scraping off the browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Since I use a nonstick pan there are never any bits. Let the wine reduce to about 1 tablespoon then add the chicken stock, and remove pan from heat.
6. Stir in 1 1/2 teaspoon salt, the cream, and the sour cream and mix until well blended and smooth looking.
7. Add the raw rice to the casserole dish. Then pour the cream mixture over the rice. Add all of the fresh herbs and the paprika. Stir the rice, onion, mushroom, herb mixture so that everything is evenly distributed in the casserole dish.
8. Place the chicken pieces on top of the rice mixture in a single layer if you can. Don’t panic they will be crowded. Bake in a 375°F oven for 45 minutes uncovered. If the casserole is still too liquidy, let it cook a few minutes more until the excess liquid has evaporated away. This dish usually takes about 50 minutes in my oven. The chicken should be a safe 165 F by then.
9. Enjoy!

Stephanie is a former newspaper reporter and self-taught baker who lives in the Twin Cities. As her blog title Girl Versus Dough suggests, Stephanie loves baking bread. And cookies. (And just about everything else.) She enjoys working with her hands, which is a great thing for all her friends and family who get the goodies that come out of her kitchen. Check out her TK recipe box! We’re sure you’ll see something you’ll want to make.

Whether it’s in the hospital caring for patients or in her kitchen whipping up meals, it’s evident that nourishing people is Terri's true calling. She's lived all over the United States, from east to west, and even in a few other countries. You should ask her about her experiences (like that time she ended up skiing into Robert Redford). But more importantly, you should try her recipes. Visit her blog That’s Some Good Cookin’ and you’ll know what we mean.